Presence-Present-Presents

“What do I want?”

“What do they want?” 

“Where can I get it?”

“How am I going to pay for it?”

These are some of the thoughts going through our minds trying to figure it all out (even though we may be missing the point altogether about what the holiday season is all about). I won’t go into that stuff (well, maybe at the end). 

What I want to discuss is some simple Hockey Math:

Presence + Present + Being Present = Presents

Presence - simply put, can be defined as just being there; in a certain place at a certain time. One can pretty easily ascertain why the term presence is important in hockey. By simply being in a particular place at a given time, a player has the ability to impact or even dictate the terms of how any one play or series of plays will unfold. As previously discussed in our blog, a player’s impact on a game without the puck can be just as great or greater than the time spent with the puck due to the percentage of time spent without vs with it. 

• The obvious one = Net Front Presence - I have a simple saying when coaching… net front presence = net front presents. If you get to the net, you often get rewarded for it. The blue paint is the bank...If you want your money, get to the bank. 
• Weakside Presence - this one is less obvious, but I consider it a Possession Presence. If you have a presence in all three lanes of the ice in each zone (most of the time), direct and indirect passing options are more readily available, puck recoveries are more easily attained, and safety valves are always in place. It’s just a good offensive structure that works in many situations. 
• Physical Presence - this one is a hot topic. The NHL and all other levels of hockey have trended towards skill and defending with a good stick vs size and finishing your checks in recent years. When I refer to a physical presence, I am NOT referring to size (although I think having some on a roster does still matter). I am referring to an attitude; an identity; a choice. I want to play with players and coach players that are felt by the opposition when they’re on the ice. To clarify, I do still want players to finish their checks and hunt the puck like a dog on a bone...big or small...all while angling and having a good stick (it all counts). 
• I want players that compete and frustrate the opponent; imposing doubt in the minds of the opponent. “Crap, he put the puck behind me again. Now I have to retrieve it when I know he’s coming hard to get the puck and me”. 
• I want players that have the confidence to make plays all over the ice. Those ones who possess the puck can also impose doubt on the opposition. “Another shift chasing these guys and the puck around...45 seconds of defending again”.

Present - introduce yourself to someone else.

• Presenting yourself as an option to your teammates. This one comes down to a mental challenge and habit development. You can check off the box of Presence (just being there), but you also have to check the box of being ACTIVE and not passive when you don’t have the puck. If you want the puck from your teammate, you must give them a target to get it to you. You must work to be available for them. You must face the puck carrier...show them your eyes NOT your ass! These are choices and habits. 
• A great example of this is what I call POP & PRESENT - F3 in OZP finds the soft area (not a specific spot on the ice, rather an open area where the DZone Coverage is NOT). Fill the hole and show your teammate you want the puck in a ready position and call for it.
• Introduce yourself to your opponent - Not just talking with your own teammates about certain plays or calling for the puck...I love players that also have the confidence and engagement level to mix it up with the opposition, i.e. talk smack, yuck it up, carve ‘em, chirp, etc. Get yourself and your teammates going however you need to. 

Being Present - active participation, fully engaged.

• This is the root of hockey sense. This is the root of game success for individuals and teams. Locked in. Focused. Giving 100% of your efforts, physically and mentally, towards the game or the task at hand. Give me 20 players that are present, and I’ll show you a successful bunch. 
• Unfortunately, this is becoming more and more rare in our society, in and out of the rinks or the training facilities. There’s way too many distractions now with technology. Sadly, I’m producing this article on a screen. I wish I wasn’t’. But it’s one of the exceptions I’ll make to share my thoughts and experiences. 
• I want to be fully present, no matter where I am. I’m making an honest effort to be better at it. Less time spent on devices, especially the phone. Minimal time or even ZERO time spent on social media. More time thinking. More time reading. More time talking. More time writing. More time exercising. More time outside. More time appreciating the time spent with family, friends, nature, and others. Wherever I am, that’s where I am. That’s the goal. To be present. To ensure life doesn’t just pass us by. Soak it up while you can.

Presents - Gifts you may give or receive. 

• These are a direct result of the previous ones (presence, present, and being present) we’ve discussed. 

If you’ve got a presence, you get presents. 

If you present yourself to your teammates, you get presents. 

If you are present, you get presents. 

And the best part, if you do these things, you can give presents. 

Set your teammates up, help the team win. 

Be present for your family, friends, others, and for yourself.

If we do these things, we all get presents.

Happy Holidays!

Tony Attanucci